Hanger for electrical lighting fixtures



July 18, 1950 A. l. APPLETON 2,515,390

HANGER FOR ELECTRICAL LIGHTING FIXTURES Filed Feb. 15, 1947 a M INVENTOR.

rt r1? Zeton By w 7 Arm s.

Patented July 18, 1950 HANGER FOR ELECTRICAL LIGHTING FIXTURES Arthur I. Appleton, Evanston, Ill., assignor to Appleton Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 15, 1947, Serial No. 728,808 13 Claims. (01. 248-343) The present invention pertains to a support for electrical lighting fixtures and more particularly to a hanger whereby such fixtures may be safely supported directly from a conventional outlet box through the medium of fastening screws threaded into mounting lugs extending inwardly from the walls of the box. It sometimes happens that the threaded portions of either the screws or the box lugs are imperfectly manufactured, or in making fixture installations such threaded portions become stripped or otherwise damaged. Also, the screws may not be securely tightened so that over a period of time ordinary building vibration can cause the screws to work loose. Thus fixtures supported by the use of such lugs are apt to become detached and fall.

Generally stated, it is an object of the invention to overcome the aforementioned difliculties in the provision of a novel hanger for use with a conventional outlet box that is simple and sturdy in construction, and inexpensive to manufacture.

' More particularly, it is an object to provide an improved fixture hanger which is adapted for use with conventional outlet boxes and which includes asafety catch means engageable with the lugs on an outlet box upon failure or removal of the mounting screws so that thefixture is prevented from falling.

The objects of the invention thus generally set forth, together with other and ancillary advantages are attained by the construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration in th accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a hanger-em- .bodying the present invention,-.the same being shown applied to a conventional outlet box.

Fig. 2 is a top-fragmentary.perspective view of the catch means of the hanger;

removed.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view similar to Fig.2'bu

illustrating a modified formof the invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation showing component relationship when the hanger is installed under normal conditions; I Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 8 but showing the position of the components when the mounting screw has been removed. 1 I a While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments, but

it is to be understood that it is not thereby intended to limit the invention to'the specific forms disclosed, but it is intended to cover all modifications and. alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as'expressed in the appendedclaims.

By way of illustration a hanger embodying the instant invention is shown'in Figure 1 applied to a conventional, generally octagonal outlet box 10. As is customary, the: latter has a pair of mounting .lugs 12 extending inwardly from the outer edges of a pair of opposite walls; Not the box. Each 'lug is drilled and screw-threaded to receive a fix ture mounting screw l6. 1

The improved hanger comprises, in general, a fixture supporting a member herein shown as a substantially circular plate 2!] serving also asa cover for the outlet box In, and embodies safety catch means generally designated 30 for coaction with the mounting lugs I2 on the outlet box upon failure of the mounting screws I6."

' As shown, the plate member '20 has a plurality of curved peripheral slots 2| for engagement by appropriate parts on the fixture itself, andfisecured to the plate centrally thereof is' anelectrical plug receptacle 23. Provision is also made at 24 to receive the switch for this socket.

So that the hanger can be secured tothe outlet box by means of conventional mounting screws, outwardly from the center of the plate in position to receive such screws are a pair of diametrically positioned key-hole slots 25, the enlarged portions 26 of which are of such sizeasto allow unobstructed passage of the head of the mounting screw l6 therethrough upon installation of'the hanger. The narrow-portions Z'l-Icf these slots are ofsuch size thatthe edges thereof underlie the heads of the screws when the hanger isinstalled. T,

The safety catch means 30 of the hanger" for coaction with the box lugs l2 upon the failure of the screws Hi to hold the fixture in place, are positioned on the upper surface of the plate 28. In the drawings, two of these safety catches are illustrated, one adjacent each of the slots 25. Each safety catch comprises an anchor member or rib 3| rigid with the plate 20 in substantially perpendicular relation thereto, and a laterally extending member or flange 32 disposed in overlying and vertically spaced relation to the hanger plate 1 and forming a stop shoulder for engagement with the boxing shouldthe"=fixture and ha ger drop downwardly under the lforce of gravity. Preferably the rib 3! is formed separately from the plate and is fixed thereto in any suitable manner such as by the use of a pair of headedeoverstuds 33 extending through holes provided thereforin the plate. The stop shoulder 32 is integrally formed with the rib 3| and-.its' free edge terminates immediately over the inner *edge "of -'-the narrow portion 2! of the slot 25. Thus, should a long mounting screw be used, itrwill'benn-hindered by the stop shoulder. j,

Mean is provided toprevent rotational'movement of the hanger relative to the box lugs when thedugs stopsshonlders :are in engagement. In the form -ilhistrafiedtin'FFigs. :1 'through-E inclusive, the means employedacomprises:theformationiofitherib 3i arcuate shapesm that one endrthereofextends:alongtthe lbottom of the slot portion 21. The other end of' '.the1 ib is ia'shion'edrinto a:hendavbleifinger fl lwhich:is detached from :the acplate 2 :and which extends along the en large'd slotiiportionizfi. \So that access may be had alto flthef finger 1:34 rtmm :the opposite side of x plate L Jan aperture '35 "is 1 provided "in the aplatef through awhichaaftoo'l-can be passedvin order tolibndtthe finger 'J'nto a -position to en'gage'the :side 10f ."the lug 112; To aiford additional rpurshasefror sthe :inserted :tool "the fi'nger 34 1 is provided with an ofiset portiona'djacent itssend-and zoverlyin fthe access :aperture :35. :Thus limiting zalbutments: are provided/oneoppositeasides offthe .iugs? tirpreventing any relative. rotational moveimentibetween the liang-eraandithe'ilugs. thetforinioftthe'inventionshownin Figs. 7, :r82and 9,"ithe;.r'ib':3l-feXtends along the-slot portion 21' andieltsfflange $2 =.is provided -'withslimiting abutments for engagement with ztheasides: of the .slugdirwhich aretrehderedweiiectivet-upon telling anovementofi-thehangeritoi prevent'any relative r rotational movement :between the han ge zand'the box :and rto2retain1thet catch and lu :in iengage- (ment. Asi'shown ithe"flangdhas:downwardlyinent rpontions' orttabsrflfi icons'titutirxgssuch'zazbntments. These downwardlyzextendin ftabs 316 terminate: a rsdhieie'nt distance sahove the cplate .20 ato allow volearaneeior-the passage ofrthe'lug 12. *Thus when'rthe stop shnurdertrests .npon the slug, "the tormer is. held eagain'st .rotational movement vshoulders 32"and the'fingersfiili of the safety 4 catches 30. The hanger is then rotated slightly to position the bodies of the screws in the narrow slot portions 21. In this position the shoulders 32 overlie the lugs 52 of the box H) as best shown in Fig. 4. The screws 15 are then tightened to secure the fixture in place. A screwdriver or some similar tool is then inserted through the access aperture 35, and using the side thereof as a fulcrum, the finger 34 is bent to a position overlying the enlarged slot portions 25. Thus the lug is prevented from rotational movement into such position thatsthe flheads of "thescrews could pass through the enlarged slot portions or the lugs move from position beneath the stop shoulders 32. "The installation of the form of fixture hanger .illustratedinl iigs. '7, 8 and 9, is accomplished in much the same manner as hereinbefore described. With the mounting screws 53 loosely threaded into the lugs 92,:the hanger is moved so that the screw heads'pass through the enlarged slot portions 2%; suc'hmovement is continued until the :spacescbetween-thetabs 33 and the plate 2!] are opposite the lugs l2. The hanger is then rotated so that the shoulders 32 of the catches overlie the lugs I?! in such position as shown in Fig. 8. should "the .hanger :diiop downwardly, *the sh'oulders-tm will-engage. the lugs t2 in 1 such-position t-that .the *lugs will I hezretained between the tabs 36 as shown in :Fig. 9. .Further, this construction permits :the shanger to he readil yvremovedjif it'abe sodesiredr By merely-liftirrgthe hanger toposition *therspace between the :tab v36 andathepl'ate'hll opposite thellug l2-thehanger can-:ibe. rotated and the-lugwilL be freed from en:- gagement by :the. catch.

-:With :the:fixturehanging means heretofore employed 551101116. rtlue :mounting screw threads be stripped 'nr ithesscrews :accid'ently become removed .thBTfiXtItTB would rfall, however, utilization @of a hanger.constructedinaccordance with the present invention including -sa'fety :oatch'zmeans for engagement'with the a box lugs willprevent such 'f al'llingifiS wouldmormaliyoccur.

.JI: claim' as? my invention: "1. 3A hanger-for mountinga-i fix'tnre:orranoutiet -box"having a lug thereon and 2 fastening means 'coacting with saidluggsaidfl'ianger icorn'prising, in combination, a platei'adaptedftoesupport said fix ltlme alfd 'cover' saidebox, and safety catch; means rigidlyasecured 'tonai'ditplate :and "adapted to .ensgagetsaid :lug upon :Eailuretoi :saidfastening means to :prevent complete dislocation of *said fixture and hanger.

2. lthan'gerfor mounting a'fixtureo'n' arr-outlet box having a lugtthereon aa'dapted'to receive a vmountingnscrew,*said hanger comprising, in 'combination; a:pl ate.ito :support saidfixture and. having a slot therein with:.a'n'arrowportion for-the reception 10f the :screw shank :an'd an enlarged portion rpermitting passage :of the "screw "head, catchmeans rigid with said. plate andaidapte'd to engage said lug to prevent complete dislocation of said hanger, and-"means."forengagement with said lugftotprevent rotation of said hanger relative J towsaid box and: shifting of said screw from the narrow portion ofsaid slot into the enlarged "portion-thereof.

3. A hanger for mounting -a fixture on-an outlet box having-a lug 'thereon'adapted to receive a mounting screw, said hanger comprising, in com-- bination, -aplate t'o support said -i'h'r tureand havinga .slotthereinw-ith amarrow portion 'for "the reception of the screw shank and an-enlarged "portion permitting passage of "the screw 'head, and: means I with" said 1 plate I and :adapted =to engage said lug to prevent rotation of said hanger relative 'to said boxand'shifting of said screw from the narrow portion of said slot into the enlarged portion thereof.

" '4. In a hanger for an electric'fixture and for use with a conventional outlet box having a lug thereon andfastening means coacting with said lug, the combination of a plate having a slot to accommodate said fastening means and an excess aperture therein with safety catch means including a rib secured to said plate adjacent said slot and extending upwardly therefrom, a bendable finger extending from said body portion along said slot, and a stop shoulder projecting from said body, overlying said plate in spaced relation thereto and spaced from said finger so that said lug can passtherebetween upon installation of the hanger, said finger being aecessiblethrough said aperture so that it can be bent into a position over said slot, said safety catch means being adapted to engage said lug upon failure of said fastening means and said finger forming an abutment for said lug for retaining said catch means and said lug in engagement to prevent said hanger and said fixture from falling.

5. A hanger for an electrical fixture and for use with a conventional outlet box having a lug thereon adapted to receive a mounting screw, said hanger comprising, in combination, a plate to cover said box and support said fixture and having a slot formed therein to permit passage of the head of said mounting screw andupon slight rotation of said plate to grip the screw, and catch means including a rib secured to said plate adjacent said slot and having one end thereof terminating in a finger extending toward said slot, and a shoulder portion extending from said body portion in overlying relation to said plate and spaced from said finger so that said box lug can pass therebetween upon installation of the hanger, said finger being bendable to a position over said slot to form an abutment for said lug to prevent shifting of said hanger into dislocating position upon accidental loosening of said screw.

6. A hanger for an electrical fixture and for use with a conventional outlet box having 2. lug thereon adapted to receive a mounting screw, said hanger comprising, in combination, a plate to cover said box and support said fixture and having a slot therein to accommodate said mounting screw, and catch means secured to said plate and including a stop member rigid with and spaced upwardly from the plate to permit passage of said box lug therebetween upon installation of said hanger, said catch means being adapted to engage said lug upon failure of said screw.

7. A hanger for an electrical fixture and for use with a conventional outlet box having a lug thereon adapted to receive a mounting screw, said hanger comprising, in combination, a plate to cover said box and support said fixture and having a slot therein to accommodate said mounting screw, and catch means secured to said plate and including a rib extending upwardly from the plate, a stop shoulder extending laterally from said rib and overlying said plate and a tab extendin downwardly from said shoulder toward said plate but having its end spaced therefrom to permit passage of said box lug therebetween upon installation of said hanger, said shoulder being adapted to engage said lug upon failure of said screw, and said tab forming a limiting abutment for retaining said shoulder and said lug in engagement.

8. A hanger for an electrical fixture and for use with aconventional outlet box having a lug thereon adapted to receive a mounting screw, said hanger comprising, in combination, a plate to cover said box and support said fixture and having a slot therein with a narrow portion for the reception of the screw shank and an enlarged portion permitting passage of the screw head, and a safety catch adjacent said slot including'a member spaced from and overlying said plate for engagement with said lug upon disengagement of the mounting screw and having limiting abutments thereon for engagement with the opposite side edges of the lug to prevent rotational movement of the plate relative to the box and shiftingof said screw from the narrow portion of said slot into the enlarged portion thereof.

9. A hanger for an electrical fixture and for use with a conventional outlet box having a lug thereon adapted to receive a mounting screw, said hanger comprising, in combination, a plate to cover said box and support said fixture and. having a slot therein with a narrow portion for the reception of the screw shank and an enlarged portion permitting passage of the screw head, and a safety catch adjacent said slot including a member spaced from and overlying said plate for engagement with said l-ug upon disengagement of said screw fixture and having limiting abutments thereon for engagement with the opposite side edges of the lug to prevent rotational movement of the plate and shifting of said screw from the narrow portion of said slot into the enlarged portion thereof, at least one of said abutments terminatin above said plate to permit passage of said lug therebetween upon installation or removal of the hanger.

10. A hanger for an electrical fixture and for use with a conventional outlet box having lugs thereon adapted to receive mounting screws, said hanger comprising, in combination, a plate to cover said box and support said fixture and having slots therein to accommodate said mounting screws, two safety catches secured to said plate each of which includes a rib extending upwardly from the plate, a flange extending laterally from said rib and overlying said plate and having its ends turned downwardly toward said plate, one of said ends terminating above said plate to permit passage of said lug therebetween upon installation of the hanger, said flange being adapted to engage said lug upon failure of said screw, and said downturned ends forming limiting abutments for retaining said fla'nge and said lug in engagement and preventing relative rotational movement.

11. A hanger for mounting a fixture on an outlet box having lugs thereon adapted to receive mountin screws, said hanger comprising, in combination, a plate to support said fixture having slots therein each of which has a narrow portion for the reception of a screw shank and an enlarged portion permitting passage of a screw head and a safety catch adjacent each of said slots and adapted to engage said lugs to prevent complete dislocation of said hanger, said safety catches including means for engagement with said lugs to prevent rotation of said hanger relative to said box and shifting of said screws from the narrow slot portions into the enlarged slot portions.

12. A hanger for mounting a fixture on an outlet box having a lug thereon adapted to receive a mounting screw, said hanger comprising, in combination, a fixture supporting member having a slot therein with a narrow portion for the reception of the serewi'shank and an 1 enlarged portion permitting-passage of the screw head,.catch means rigidwith said'member and disposed forengagement with said lug to interrupt falling movement *o'fithe hanger upon failure'of said-screw, and'means .rendered'efiective as an incident to falling'movement of the catchmeans :into engagement with the lu to prevent rotation of said member relative to said box and shifting of said screw vfrom the narrow portion of said slot'into theienlarged portion thereof.

13. A hanger for an electrical fixture and for use with a, conventional outlet box having a lug thereon adapted toreceiveamounting screw, said hanger comprisingdn' combination, a fixture supporting member having an aperture therein to receive the mounting-screw,;and a'catch-rigid with said-member adjacent said aperture and having-a REFERENCES CITED The following references :are'of -record infitlm file of this patent? UNITED "STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,483,252 Symmes "-F3eb.;-1-2, 1924 72,089,390 ,Mangin -Aug. 10, 1937 2,095,653 .Tepel, 0.017. 12, 1. 9.37 2,249,331

Sachs. Y V July 15,1941 

